Cornell Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Cornell Mills
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Alden St., Fall River, Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Built | 1890 |
| MPS | Fall River MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000657 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1983 |
The Cornell Mills building is a historic cotton factory located on Alden Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. It was built in 1890 and is a great example of how industrial buildings looked in the late 1800s. This important factory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. In 2016, a company bought the property. They plan to turn the old mill into homes for people.
Contents
What is Cornell Mills?
The Cornell Mills building is in eastern Fall River. It stands between Alden Street and the highways Massachusetts Route 24 and Interstate 195. You can easily spot it from the highway.
Building Features
The main building is made of granite, a strong stone. It has three stories. The stone blocks are rough, but the corners and window frames are smooth. The windows are all the same size. There are stone supports, called buttresses, that group the windows together. The roof is almost flat and has a wide edge.
Other Buildings and Structures
Around the main mill, there are other smaller buildings. These include a building for the engine, a garage, a waste house, and a storage building. There is also a tall brick chimney. It stands about 160 feet (49 meters) high. The top of the chimney has special brick patterns.
History of Cornell Mills
The Cornell Mills company started in 1889. The factory itself was built in 1890. It was made from granite found right in Fall River.
What the Mill Produced
At its busiest time in the 1910s, the mill had 45,000 spindles. Spindles are parts of machines that spin thread. The mill made printed cloth and other types of textiles. Textiles are fabrics like cotton or wool. John D. Flint was the first president of the company. The factory closed down in 1930.
New Life for the Mill
After closing, the building was rented out. In 1939, a company called Elbe-Cesco, which made bookbinding supplies, started using parts of the mill. They stayed there for many years. In 2016, Starr Development Partners bought the property. They plan to turn the old factory into 101 rental homes. This is similar to what has happened with other old mills in the area.
